Windsor officials update snow and ice plan

Windsor officials released Tuesday the updated town Snow and Ice Control Plan for 2016-2017.

"With all of the variables — wind, temperature, precipitation rates, etc. — each snow storm is unique," said Streets Supervisor Brian Rowe. "Using the Snow and Ice Control Plan as a guide, we work to provide the community with the safest road conditions possible."

According to a news release from the town of Windsor, when Windsor experiences snow or ice, road crews will focus on arterials and collectors roads, working to create a network of connected, clear and safe roadways for emergency responders, schools, and the public.

Priorities

The Town of Windsor has four priority classifications for plowing and applying de-icer depending on the amount of snowfall:

» Priority I – Trace amounts to 3 inches: Main arterial and collector streets around schools; hills, roundabouts, and major and minor intersections with traffic lights and stop signs are plowed. All emergency facilities are treated with de-icing material.

Recommended Stories For You

» Priority III – 6-12 inches: All main arterial roads along with select collector streets, schools, hills, roundabouts, and major and minor intersections with traffic lights and stop signs are plowed and treated with de-icing materials until the storm subsides. All emergency facilities are treated with de-icing material and plowed. Residential streets and alleys are plowed as resources allow.

» Priority IV – 12 or more inches: An emergency operations center may be activated. Priority is given to all main arterials, selected collector streets and emergency facilities. Collector streets, around schools, hills, roundabouts, and major and minor intersections with traffic lights and stop signs are plowed. All emergency facilities are treated with de-icing material and plowed as soon as possible thereafter. All residential streets, cul-de-sacs and alleys are plowed as resources allow. It is up to the discretion of the Public Works director to call contractors to assist.

Cul-de-Sacs

Cul-de-sacs will potentially be plowed once there is 12 inches or more of snow. Snow removal crews will clear a central path through the cul-de-sac by plowing once to the right and once to the left to the curb and gutter. When reaching the end of the cul-de-sac, snow will be pushed to the best available location in the public right-of-way that least impacts residents. In anticipation of impending snowstorms, it is strongly recommended that citizens move vehicles off the street. Cul-de-sacs may not be plowed if plows cannot safely drive down them.

Paved Alleys

Alleys will be plowed with a single pass down the center of the alley, pushing snow to both sides, at the discretion of the plow driver.

Downtown

The downtown area consists of Main Street from 7th Street to 3rd Street, and from Walnut Street to Ash Street off of Main Street. Snow removal crews will plow curb to curb in the downtown area at least once during a snow event. Businesses in this area are encouraged to shovel snow from their sidewalks onto the street prior to the arrival of the town's snow removal crews.

Resident and Business Owners' Responsibilities

It is unlawful and strictly prohibited for residents, business owners and private contractors to encroach on public right-of-ways by pushing snow or ice into or across the street from private lots, driveways and sidewalks per the Municipal Code. Property owners who violate this section will be required to remove the improperly placed snow or reimburse the town if town crews do the work. For example, snow from private property may not be placed in public streets, on or around fire hydrants, and town parking lots. Public right-of-way typically extends five feet behind the curb.

Windsor property owners and occupants are responsible for keeping all sidewalks free of snow and ice. In the event owners or occupants fail to remove snow and ice from sidewalks within 24 hours after the accumulation of snow and ice, the town may have the sidewalks cleared, and the cost, including inspection, incidentals and administration, will be assessed against the property per Section 11-7-10 of the Municipal Code.

De-icing Material

The Town of Windsor uses a gray de-icing material called Ice Buster to ensure that roadways are properly maintained during snowstorms. The town selected the product based on three criteria: cost, performance and potential environmental impact.

The town does not use any liquid de-icing material or sand. Ice Buster is a salt product, pre-moistened with Apex Meltdown to reduce corrosion while increasing de-icing performance. Ice Buster delivers enhanced traction, eliminating the need for sand. Eliminating sand reduces sediment in storm drainages, rivers, and along roadways. Sand can also have detrimental effects to air quality and is costly to clean up.

Ice Buster accelerates ice melt, requires fewer applications than other products, and works in temperatures as low as 15 degrees; once its passes below 15 degrees, it becomes very hard to melt snow and ice.